Apparition

I can't believe no one's commented on this song! I love it...but I don't really know what it's about. Anyone want to enlighten me?

sure! i'll give it a shot, anyway. i think this song is about someone who's really elitist and knows it. like how you see so many people making comments about a perceived vast majority of "stupid people." a lot of people think that they're alot smarter than the vast majority of the global population, and i think this song is written from the perspective of one of those people.

like, for instance, when he says "come ego you fool... when the planet lets me down, you'll still be around" he's talking about how he sort of shuts himself off from society because he's ego is so big that he doesn't think they have anything of merit to say. so just in case he DOES make the decision to go out and interact, his ego is telling him "when you realize you've made a mistake like i know you will, i'll be here for you."

i'm especially impressed with the lyric "i'm learning now that nothing in common is better than finding out." to me, that's saying that realizing you have nothing in common with a person (or society as a whole) at first is better than getting into a conversation/relationship under the impression that you've finally met someone who interests you, only to realize to your dismay later that you were wrong.

i also think the protagonist in this song is a bit mentally ill. not just "society sucks" type mentally ill, but genuinely has some sort of imbalance, as indicated by "a nightmare comes and goes, i can't remember it, it's sinking, the holes are filling my ship." almost like the self-imposed exile he's putting himself through is slowly driving him insane.

man. what a great song. tony sly has really turned into an incredible lyricist.

I disagree with "imp" i think the protagonist is depressed and feels like he has nothing in common with anyone anymore. he's tired of feeling alone and rejected, but at the same time he doesn't think the people rejecting him are that great either. in fact theyre almost a joke, so why is he so scared of being rejected by people who are jokes?? he doesn't want his ego bruised by the rejection and feels like a ghost of who he is, and by locking himself away from society he's letting the ghost of himself win, rather than risking rejection out in the world. he's only getting worse with time locked alone in his room, depression is setting in, he can't sleep but he doesn't feel awake and the only sleep he does get is unrestful and full of nightmares. he feels as though he's drowning in his self pity and people are just laughing about the fact that he has to remove himself from society after being rejected by the crowds. the best line of the song is "I'm learning now that nothing in common is better than finding out" meaning it's better to not engage in talking to people because if he does try to socialize it usually will end in rejection and humiliation. so it's better just to assume you have nothing in common with anyone than talk to them to find out and risk rejection. even though he wants to stop caring so much about fitting in, he can't deal with the blow to his ego and the song ends with him still giving up on the world.